With its jacked 9.3 inches of ground clearance and various off-road bits, the Wilderness is Subaru Crosstrek’s most adventurous variant yet.
Subaru just announced the 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness at the 2023 New York Auto Show. This SUV becomes the third model to join the brand’s off-road vehicle lineup, following in the footsteps of its two siblings, the Outback Wilderness and Forester Wilderness. Hence several updates were made to make the crossover even more rugged and prepared to tackle any sort terrain.
One of the most significant updates is the ground clearance, now increased to 9.3 inches (vs. 8.7 inches on the standard Crosstrek), allowing it to nail more challenging terrains, including mud, gravel, or snow, especially as it comes equipped with standard Yokohama Geolandar off-road tires for better traction.
That said, what really differentiates the Wilderness from the standard version is the styling. It’s as if Subaru sent the Crosstrek to the gym and it returned with bolder and beefier bumpers, front grille, and wheel arch claddings. Moreover, it also features a new metal front skid plate for extra undercarriage protection, brighter LED fog lights, and an anti-glare hood decal in matte black finish.
The interior hasn’t been overlooked either, as the Japanese automaker claims to have designed a cabin well-suited for outdoor activities. The new synthetic leather seats are made of durable, easier-to-clean materials, improving the cabin’s ruggedness. Also, while the interior is mostly black, the copper accents contrast pretty nicely.
And to remind everyone this is a Subaru Wilderness vehicle, emblems can be found on the front doors and trunk gate and embossed on the headrests. Furthermore, customers can also choose new and bolder paint options, including Geyser Blue or Autumn Green.
Under the hood, you’ll find Crosstrek’s range-topper 2.5-liter boxer engine with 182 hp and 176 lb-ft, delivering power to all four wheels via a CVT transmission. And while a CVT might not be everyone’s cup of tea when it comes to off-roading, it’s worth noting that the Wilderness gets a slightly retuned unit for better low-speed performance, featuring a lower final drive ratio of 4.11 (vs. 3.7 on the standard model). Even better, owners can access this lower gear ratio as desired using the Wilderness’ signature X-MODE system — essentially a traction control system capable of adapting to challenging driving conditions.
Overall, the 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness is here to attract a niche of customers who long for a more off-road-ready compact crossover. And at $31,995, it’s slightly less pricey than its closest rival, the Jeep Compass Trailhawk 4×4, making it an interesting offer indeed.
While units are expected to reach dealerships next fall, we can’t wait to see these jacked-up, rooftop tent-equipped Crosstreks exploring the wilderness soon.
But what do you think of the Crosstrek Wilderness? Cop or drop?
Gallery: 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness
